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Both the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association recommend set parameters for EMS dispatch and communication.
The parameters are as follows: [22]
- Rapid location of stroke patients by utilizing enhanced landline and wireless 9-1-1 service
- Ensuring that EMS communicators recognize stroke signs and symptoms reported by callers
- Dispatching the highest appropriate level of care available to suspected stroke patients, in the shortest time possible, by ensuring that EMS communicators use emergency medical dispatch guidelines reflecting the current ASA/AHA guidelines
- Ensuring that 100% of 9-1-1 call centers use dispatch guidelines that prioritize stroke patients as requiring a high-priority EMS response at the highest care level available
- Ensuring that the time between the receipt of the call to dispatch of the response team is less than 90 seconds for 90% of stroke related calls
- Ensuring that EMS communicators correctly identify callers reporting stroke signs and symptoms, and dispatch EMS Responders as the highest priority
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